I can't seem to quit thinking about this gun. It has a great feel to it. I just wonder what kind of experience people are having with it. If there is anyone out there with first hand experience, I would appreciate some feedback. Please, no biased political rantings about Smith and Wesson either.
Any first hand SW99 experience out there?
- Thread starter CSAY
- Start date
i have not had a chance to fire a SW99, but got to handle one a few months ago. i wasn't impressed. it felt chintzy, not made very well. as the owner of a p-99 i am very happy with it. i would suggest that you take a look at one of them instead. make sure that you look for one with the german proof marks.
Adept
Adept
get a p99. i had an sw99 first. thought that it was the same as the walther. it ain't!! the walther is rated for +p loads, the sw is NOT. if you lock the slide back and compare the two, you will see that the walther bbl is the same diameter all the way back. the sw is the same diameter as the walther only near the muzzle. it tapers down starting about 3/8" from the muzzle. this also makes the bbl rattle alot when the slide is locked back. the frame is identical, the slide & bbls are not. got a green/black walther and like it, but the trigger sucks IMHO. you can't tell where it's going to break (i think it's designed that way by looking at the trip) and the pull it too long. but the p99 is a high quality accurate 9mm (ain't shot the 40).
CSAY-
I have an SW99 in .40 and it is an outstanding pistol. It has been extremely accurate and 100% reliable and the trigger is not bad at all. It is also an excellent size-not too big, not too small. I have also had the opportunity to fire several other SW99 pistols and all have performed the same as mine-flawlessly.
You would probably be able to find many threads denegrating the SW99 but praising the P99. It is interesting to note that the frames and frame components are made from the same plastic, in the same factory, and on the same type machines as the P99. The only way there would be any discernable difference would be if Walther was intentionally building the SW99 frames to a lesser standard (or P99 frames to a higher one).
The SW99 slides are CNC machined to a different appearance but to the same exact internal dimensions as the P99. Unless the people at Smith & Wesson can't read, the machines in the U.S. should be cutting slides and barrels to the same exact dimensions as the machines in Germany. Granted they are made of different materials (SW99 slide and barrel are stainless steel while P99 is tennifered carbon steel).
In my opinion (which is all it is) many people have made their decision on the quality of the SW99 for political reasons. I do agree with people who were angry when they thought they bought a German made Walther and later found out they had an entirely S&W made gun-if you paid for a Walther you should have received a genuine Walther. Not because the Walther was any better, just because you paid for a certain item and should have received that item.
I am extremely happy with my SW99 and would put it up against any Walther P99 any day of the week.
Sincerely,
Tom C
I have an SW99 in .40 and it is an outstanding pistol. It has been extremely accurate and 100% reliable and the trigger is not bad at all. It is also an excellent size-not too big, not too small. I have also had the opportunity to fire several other SW99 pistols and all have performed the same as mine-flawlessly.
You would probably be able to find many threads denegrating the SW99 but praising the P99. It is interesting to note that the frames and frame components are made from the same plastic, in the same factory, and on the same type machines as the P99. The only way there would be any discernable difference would be if Walther was intentionally building the SW99 frames to a lesser standard (or P99 frames to a higher one).
The SW99 slides are CNC machined to a different appearance but to the same exact internal dimensions as the P99. Unless the people at Smith & Wesson can't read, the machines in the U.S. should be cutting slides and barrels to the same exact dimensions as the machines in Germany. Granted they are made of different materials (SW99 slide and barrel are stainless steel while P99 is tennifered carbon steel).
In my opinion (which is all it is) many people have made their decision on the quality of the SW99 for political reasons. I do agree with people who were angry when they thought they bought a German made Walther and later found out they had an entirely S&W made gun-if you paid for a Walther you should have received a genuine Walther. Not because the Walther was any better, just because you paid for a certain item and should have received that item.
I am extremely happy with my SW99 and would put it up against any Walther P99 any day of the week.
Sincerely,
Tom C
panzerfuehrer
New member
It seems this topic comes up every few weeks, and heads downhill in a hurry. 
I looked at the SW99 and the P99, and chose the SW99 in .40 for several reasons, none of which was price. They are both good weapons, but I preferred the open-end accessory rails, the coarser slide serrations, and the rounded trigger guard.
I am very pleased with it, and have used it as a daily carry weapon. It shoots well, and the only malfunction I ever had was with some Fiocchi ammo. Switched to a different brand in same range session and problem solved.
I suspect that most folks trumpeting the virtues of the gen-yoo-wine Walther P99 over the SW99 really have issues with S&W politics, rather than the quality of the firearms. To all of them I say again: If your P99 needs factory service, guess where it goes. Springfield, MA.
I looked at the SW99 and the P99, and chose the SW99 in .40 for several reasons, none of which was price. They are both good weapons, but I preferred the open-end accessory rails, the coarser slide serrations, and the rounded trigger guard.
I am very pleased with it, and have used it as a daily carry weapon. It shoots well, and the only malfunction I ever had was with some Fiocchi ammo. Switched to a different brand in same range session and problem solved.
I suspect that most folks trumpeting the virtues of the gen-yoo-wine Walther P99 over the SW99 really have issues with S&W politics, rather than the quality of the firearms. To all of them I say again: If your P99 needs factory service, guess where it goes. Springfield, MA.
Modifiedbrowning
New member
I have never seen a SW99 in the flesh, but I prefer the P99 because the SW is Fugly in comparison. Just my .02 cents.
panzer, actually i have an issue with the quality of the firearm. they may use the same molds and materials for the frame, but they aren't tested as rigorously as the walthers are. the slide and barrel materials aren't of the same quality either. any and all german made firearms are required to be tested in a proof house, hence the proof marks. there is a serious quality difference between something made there and something made here.
also, as a note, the frame molds aren't the same, there are some differences, like the trigger guard for one.
anyway, please feel free to attribute this to a political statement all you wish. here is *MY* political statement: i think that s&w make a damn fine revolver and own a couple of older .38s, but won't touch a new one.
Adept
btw, not all "factory" work is done at s&w, earl is a certified walther armourer, as mine had nothing to do with s&w, it won't go to them.
<edited for political statement>
also, as a note, the frame molds aren't the same, there are some differences, like the trigger guard for one.
anyway, please feel free to attribute this to a political statement all you wish. here is *MY* political statement: i think that s&w make a damn fine revolver and own a couple of older .38s, but won't touch a new one.
Adept
btw, not all "factory" work is done at s&w, earl is a certified walther armourer, as mine had nothing to do with s&w, it won't go to them.
<edited for political statement>
As I said, CSAY, do a search...
I don't own an SW99, but I have heard enough horror stories here and on Glocktalk from people who own them that I won't buy one. Everything from weak finish durability, to crappy slide to frame fit, to failures to feed/eject/fire, etc...
The reason I suggested that you do a search was so that you could hear it from the horse's mouth instead of my "I read it here a while ago" statement.
I don't own an SW99, but I have heard enough horror stories here and on Glocktalk from people who own them that I won't buy one. Everything from weak finish durability, to crappy slide to frame fit, to failures to feed/eject/fire, etc...
The reason I suggested that you do a search was so that you could hear it from the horse's mouth instead of my "I read it here a while ago" statement.
I got one for my girlfriend in .40 because she likes the small grip option. She loves it. It has never had a malfunction and she shoots it just as acurrately as my Glock. I pesonally find the trigger to be quite smooth, but too different from my glock for me to shoot very well. I actually like the grip pattern on the SW99 better than the P99. The only complaint I have about the gun is it seems to get a lot dirtier than my glock (I get to clean the guns of course).HTH